Tray.



J. J. KA'RGES.

TRAY.

Y APPLIOATION FILED IDEO. 21, 1906.

914,285, Patented MM2, 1909.

2p YH-7 4 L 4 5 wim-uf: l 15p ffm attorney TH: NuRRls PETERS cu.,WASHINGTON,

.IULIUS J. KARGES, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

TRAY.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed December 21, 1906. Serial No. 348,953.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULrUs J. KARGns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trays, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trays.

The object of my invention is to provide side and end membersconnectedto each other so as to form the sides of a tray, a counter showcase or other body forming the bottom of the tray to which the side andend members may be readily attached or detached therefrom.

My invention provides further detachable side and end members hinged toeach other so as to be collapsed when not in use, such members beingreadily adapted to be placed on a show case or counter for the purposeof forming therewith a tray for holding goods.

My invention provides further extensible side members by which thelength of the tray formed with the end members and the show case may bevaried to suit circumstances.

My invention provides further extensible end members by which the widthmay be varied to suit the width of the show case or counter, one of theobjects of my invention being to provide an apparatus that may be variedin dimensions to fit the place in which it is to be used.

My invention provides further extensible partitions which may be hingedto the side or end members so as to permit the collapsing of theapparatus into small space when not in use.

' part of which is shown in Other novel features, such as the releasablylocking of the side and end members at angles to each other, and thereleasably holding of the parts of the members from lengthwise movementrelative to each other, are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is aplan view of the apparatus shown mounted on a counter, dotted lines.Fig. 2 is a top view of the apparatus shown collapsed. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view taken on the dotted line a-b of Fig. l. Fig. 4is a horizontal sectional view talren on the dotted line c-d of Fig. 3,showing the hinge connection between one of the partitions and one ofthe side members. Fig. 5, is an enlarged plan view, partly broken away,

and showing the connected ends of a side and end member, the membersbeing locked at angles to each other. Fig. 6 is an enlarged verticalsectional view taken on the dotted line ef of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a crosssection taken on the dotted line g-h of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an elevationview of one of the devices employed to engage the edge of the supportingbody said device being shown attached to a side member, a part of whichis shown.

Similar characters of reference denote similar parts.

The side members comprise each a plurality of parts adjustablelengthwise of each other, the number of parts employed and their lengthdepending upon the size of the tray which it is desired to make. Asshown in the drawings the tray illustrated has side members comprisingeach 9 parts. For strength and lightness these parts comprise preferablychannel formed parts slidable lengthwise one in the other, releasablemeans being provided for holding the parts against lengthwise movement.The parts comprising the side members are preferably made in threesizes. In the apparatus illustrated, there are in each side member,which as a whole is denoted by A, two horizontal channel formed parts lhaving slidably mounted in its ends two channel formed parts 2, in eachof which is slidably mounted a similarly formed part 3. The middle part3 has its ends slidably mounted in the two adjacent parts 2, the endparts 3 of each side member A being connected, preferably by hinges C,to the adjacent ends of the end members B. The parts l, 2 and 3 aredisposed with the channels on the inner sides, preferably, the bottom ofthe channel of each part being vertically disposed. The inner edges ofthe horizontal portions of each part 1, 2 and 8 are provided withvertical flanges 4 which extend toward each other. Each end member, B,in the form illustrated, comprises three parts 1, 2 and 3 correspondingin form and disposed relatively to each other the same as similar partsare disposed in the side members A, adjacent parts of the end members Bbeing connected to adjacent parts of the side members A by hinges Cwhich permit the parts to be collapsed as shown in Fig. 2. To retain themembers A and B at angles to each other, when the apparatus is in useany suitable releasable locking means may be employed. In the drawings Ihave shown two hooks D pivoted respectively to the parts 3 of the sidemembers A, the free ends of such hooksbeing adapted to enter retheirmiddle portions one to the upper flange 4 of each part 2 of the side andend members A and B. Each spring wire E has its free.

ends turned at right angles outwardly and then upwardly, as shown in 7.The ends of each flange 4 of each part 2 is provided with transverseholes 5 through which extend the free bent ends of the spring wire Ewhich is mounted on such part 2. The free ends of the wires E normallypress upward on the lower' edges of the upper flanges 4 of the adjacentparts 1 and 3 respectively, and thus resist lengthwise movement of theparts 1, 2 and 3 relative to each other. The upper iianges 4 of theparts 1 and 3 are provided on their lower edges with downwardlyextending projections 6 adapted to engage the adjacent bent ends ofthewires E for preventing the parts 1, 2 and 3 being pulled apart. Theupper flanges of the parts 1 and the middle part 3 of each member A areprovided each with two such )ro'ections 5 said i I projections beingdisposed adjacent the respective ends of such parts 1 and 3. The endparts 3 ofthe members A and the parts i and 3 of the end members 3 areprovided each with but one projection 6 on the upper' flange 4, saidprojection, of course being located on the end of the part next adjacentthe part 2. The holes 5 are large enough so as to permit the ends of thespring wires E being depressed sufliciently to permit the turned ends ofsaid wires to pass under the adjacent projections 6 on the flanges 4,when it is desired to withdraw the parts 1, 2 and 3 from engagement witheach other. auch holes 5 are preferably not vertically long enough topermit the upwardly turned ends of the wires E to pass out through thesaid holes.

The side members A are provided with means for engaging the edges of thesupporting body, such as a table, counter or showcase denoted by F.These engaging means are provided so that the apparatus may notaccidentally be moved laterally on the table or counter. rlhe preferablemeans for accomplishing this object comprise a plurality of buttons Gpreferably pivoted at their upper ends to the outer sides of the parts 1of the members, the lower ends being adapted to be swung, as shown inFig. 8 so as to extend below the upper surface of the supporting body F.W hen not in use the buttons G may be swung to a horizontal position, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. In Fig. 4 1 have shown a preferablemanner of pivoting the button G to vits support. l/Vithin the channel ofthe part 1 is mounted a longitudinal block H, which is provided with ahorizontalA hole in which is mounted a rivet I which also extendsthrough the button G and a dished resilient washer J mounted on theouter side of the buttonG and held by the rivet l with a spring pressureagainst the button. rhe friction of the spring washer J holds the buttonG in the position in which it may be disposed. Similar buttons G may besimilarly secured to the outer sides ofthe parts 1 and 3 of each endmember B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

l provide extensible transverse partitions K having their ends connectedpreferably pivotally to opposite parts of the members A. The partitionsK are preferably constructed similarly to the end members B. Noreleasable means for holding the parts 1, 2 and 3 of the partitions Kneed be employed. Hinges L connect adjacent parts of each partition Kwith the adjacent part of the two members A.

When it is desired to employ my invention in connection with asupporting body, such as a counter, the end members B, as well aspartitionsh, are extended by pulling apart the sides A until the buttonsG on the side members will pass the side edges ofthe counter, then themembers A are forced toward each other until the Vbuttons G engagecppcsite edges of the counter, as shown in Fig. 1. rihe end buttons Gare turned as shown in Fig. 1., to the horizontal osition. ri'he endmembers B are then move toward or from each other to the positionsdesired.

When it is desired to collapse the apparatus, it is removed from thesupporting body F, the hooks D swung so as to be disengaged with theeyes D', after which the ends B and partitions K may be swungV parallelwith the side members A, as shown in Fig. 2. In this form the apparatusis compact and may be stored or shipped readily.

As assembled and dis osed as shown in Fig. 1, the members A, andpartitions K form with the counter F a tray having a plurality ofcompartments for holding different articles, the ends B and sides Aforming the sides of the tray, of which F forms the bottom.

The extensible sides and ends permit my device to be easily fitted foruse with supporting bodies of different dimensions, and the compact forminto which it can be collapsed When not in use renders the apparatusvery desirable,

My invention may be modified in dillerent Ways Within the scope of theappended claims Without departing 'from its spirit.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

l. The combination With extensible side members, of end members hingedrespectively to the side members and cooperating therewith to form thesides of a tray, and a transverse partition hinged at its ends to thetwo side members respectively.

2. The combination With extensible side members, of extensible endmembers hinged respectively to the side members and coperating therewithto form the sides of a tray, and a transverse partition also extensibleand hinged at its ends to' the side members respectively.

8. The combination With side and end members each extensible and hingedto each other to form the sides of a tray, of releasable means forlocking the end and side members at angles to each other, and anextensible partition hinged at its ends to the side membersrespectively.

4. The combination with extensible side and end members hinged to eachother to 'form the sides of a tray7 of means Jfor releasably holdingsaid members against length- Wise movement, and an extensible partitionhinged at its ends to the side members respectively.

5. The combination with extensible side and Aend members hinged to eachother to form the sides of a tray, of releasable means for holding eachmember from extension, releasable means for holding the end and sidemembers at angles to each other, and an extensible partition hinged atits ends to the side members respectively.

6. rlhe combination with extensible side and end members comprising eachmember a plurality of parts slidable one in the other lengthwise, ofresilient means for releasably holding the parts of each member fromlengthwise movement, the side and end members being hinged respectivelyto each other to form the sides of a tray, releasable means for lockingthe side and end members at angles to each other, and the side membershaving downwardly extending means Jfor engaging the edges of asupporting body, and an extensible partition hinged at its ends to theside members respectively.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JULIUS J. KARGES.

Vtitnesses:

E. B. HOUSE, G. C. LA MOUNTAIN.

